I always thought the mask never worked on Walter because the mask allows one to break their inhibitions to cause chaos, but that's just Walter's default state. He's never restrained himself or refused any urges, so what can the mask even offer someone like that?
@@EN-mh4og I just like the stupid theory of "he head too big." Fits the uncaring nature of the entity of the mask to a T. It's also just a hilarious image & juxtaposition of everybody else's face & head being enveloped by the mask, but Walter is the one enveloping the mask in his panel. I love that you can really bring away as much or as little as you want from reading most of The Mask books outside of maybe "Hunt For Green October". They're somehow both really deep & really shallow at the same time. Right up there with "The Maxx", the first 25 or so issues of "TMNT" and "The Tick" as some of these short run books that have a fully realized world that exists in itself and doesn't really have a desire to explain itself just for the sake of exposition.
@@EN-mh4og In the end we could have only two solutions: or like you said Walter naturally is something totally incompatible with the mask that couldn't work... or Walter is so similar to the mask that wearing doesn't change anything about his persona and so couldn't work.
The mask tempts users by offering to give them what they crave deep down so it can twist them into violent maniacs Walter has no need for the mask he isn’t repressed or unhappy like the others he already lives the life he wants and is already a pretty violent/insane individual so there wasn’t much for the mask to corrupt
@@majestyzx9081 my first thought was the basic anatomy difference of his giant head and how it just falls off his face... lmao If I think about it deeper I would think they are like the Unstoppable Force meeting the immovable object etc water and oil, incompatible idk... From a psychological aspect I like to think that he is something like a sociopath and doesn't have normal people feelings or emotions, and a magical mask that amplifies personality and creates trickster chaos would have no effect find somebody so numb or terminator robotic like. Kinda like a light bulb can fit in the socket but if the wires are not wired correctly it can't flow. Just thinking out loud at this point regardless cheers!!
I always interpreted the Mask not working on Walter due to the fact that Walter has no... hidden darkness, so to speak. This doesn't mean he is good, it's just means that Walter is... Walter. He wears his darkness in his sleeves. All of the Mask's bearers have hidden dark impulses, inner demons and desires that the Mask brings to the forefront and amplifies to make its wearers into avatars of destruction and chaos. Walter doesn't have any hidden darkness or inner sadistic desires, because Walter simply IS Walter. Walter is sincere in his brutality. If he wants to kill you, he kills you. So the Mask cannot bring anything to the surface and twist it, because it's already there.
This is a good theory, but I think a better one is that the mask is about a sense of humor. It’s kinda weird to me to say “it’s about repressed darkness” when Walter can’t wear it but also kills people. The opposite of Walter is levity, that’s what sets him apart.
The Mask in the comics is essentially the urban one ring to rule them all. -Both slowly corrupts the wearer after some time -Makes people addicted to it due to its inherit abilities -Empowers the user to fit their goals -Highly sought after by individuals who know of it
Well the idea of the Ring anyway. We always see the Ring tempting everyone around it, we see characters talking about how powerful they could be with it and yet the only tangible thing we ever see the Ring do is turn the wearer invisible
@@BenersantheBread The power of the ring ironically reflects the power of the wearer, supposedly people like Aragorn and Boromir or Gandalf could have displayed powers we did not see.
It’s because both have very direct inspiration from the Ring of Gyges allegory Edit: maybe not inspiration, but they’re all asking the same thematic questions of morality and power
For walter not being able to use the mask I have three theories 1. He has nothing to hide. If we take the "logical" route in the real purpose of a mask is to pretend to be someone or something you aren't, like Halloween or dressing up for a convention as your favorite character like we see with other hosts for the mask. Walter is exactly who he wants to be, he's tenacious, vicious and downright disturbing in his approach to getting what he wants. 2. He cannot be corrupted. Not to say he's pure of heart, but rather he's as dark as he can or will ever be. If we use what was show to us in the comics the mask, regardless of strength of character, corrupts its host. Again, if we use previous examples the others had goals in mind of what they wanted to do with the power. Become a superhero, free animals, or even cause chaos the mask twists what their original goal was into something darker. And for Walter its just not doable somehow, he knows exactly how he wants something and the exact way to get it eventually. 3. Maybe the mask is sentient, it knows Walter is its antithesis and enjoys the competition. To make him its host would take all the joy it could ever get out of spreading chaos. Almost like playing a game, when you can do anything, make anything that has no consequences what's the fun in that? Or possibly it finds it funny to make the ONLY man that could take it from its host "forcefully" not viable is another sick joke it enjoys.
I think it's because he has no desire he can't attain himself. Stanley wanted to push people around, Calloway was a detective who was under a lot of pressure, the mobster was a guy with delusions of grandeur and Catherine just wanted all the people using it to be stopped
I’ve honestly never heard the third idea though, but it’s definitely a very interesting comics. A dynamic pretty similar to The Joker and Batman. And I believe we have seen portions of the comics where the Mask itself speaks to people even when it’s not being worn which could indicate it is indeed sentient
My father, who loves comic books, explained the premise of The Mask to me once. He explained how it was an ugly green mask that made whoever wore it capable of doing anything they wanted to do, being whoever they wanted to be. Rather than asking what exactly The Mask could do, I asked, "Won't people care that he's wearing a mask?" (in the context of him eventually being loved by anyone he encounters.) This conversation went on, but only that one line stuck with me since then. If you have unlimited power, at the cost of nobody ever knowing who you are when you wield that power, will these powers ever be anything more than some superfluous blip? When you wear the Mask, you aren't just gaining its powers, you're hiding yourself from the outside world, from consequences and repercussions for your increasingly unhinged actions. In a way, The Mask starts wearing _you_ .
I think of it more of a Grey Cowl of Nocturnal sort of situation. As in if you dawn the 'cowl' (or mask), you take on the 'avatar' or embodiment of the god or entity that created it. So essenitally in Oblivion, you could use the mask to do literally whatever you wanted from murdering a town to stealing everything in your path, but as soon as you took it off, you lost all of the bounties/aggro/charges etc. So less that it's 'wearing you' and more you are momentarily the embodiment of whatever god or entity/being infused the object with their power. You become a 'you' version of them. Almost like your souls fuse for a moment until the cowl, or mask in this case, is removed. Then you just become you again. I think this is demonstrated well in the Mask movie as well. When Carrey has it on, he's more a chaotic goofball, but the other guy is more like a horrifying monster straight outta classic horror movies. So I feel it's more an artifact that amplifies who you are via the visage of the god inhabiting it personally.
The way I understood it, the mask simply removes limits. Limits of physics and limits of morality aren't any different to it. Walter isn't affected because he already breaks too many limits.
Well they toned down and worried the movie might get complained I mean i love the jim carrey mask The original mask was dark But it worked both But i still prefer the jim carrey mask
If you want a similar contrast then read the original Ninja Turtles comics. The Turtles originally thought up by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were far darker than any of the later adaptations, especially the in 1987 cartoons.
Mask has a such a strong concept, it consistently changing perspectives of different characters, mask having cartoon like super powers and personality, and how it slightly changes depending on user, its real entertaining.
I think Walter is just already completely uninhibited. he wants something, he gets it. He wants to do something, he does it. No questions asked. I think that Walter doesn't have the deep seated aspirations and wants a normal person has, that well of deep frustration for what reality is because... well, he's Walter. No one but Big head can oppose him. Not stop him. Oppose him. I think he just didn't interest the mask itself, the entity, too empty, too boring. If the corruption of the user is what the mask is after, in the whole demonic "Doth as thou wilt" rule then... Walter is already completely doing it. Nothing to corrupt there.
Best comment I've seen so far. I see it exactly like that: The Parallels between Walter and the mask. Walter: "He wants something, he gets it. He wants to do something, he does it. Mask: "The mask allows to grant its powers to want something, you get it. The mask lets you get what you want to do something and it allows you to get it. Mask didnt work simply because Walter is the freak of nature that allows him to get what he wants akin to the mask, whilst remaining his true self. No alter-ego to bring to life. Its just Walter.
It’s like offering ultimate power to a grizzly bear. It can already do whatever it wants, and all it really wants is to eat, s;$t, roll over and go to sleep.
The way walter was handled is one of the best things in the comic. Hes almost like a force of nature. He comes in, does what he wants, others may try using him but walter does as he pleases and he gets what he wants. Almost exactly like the mask itself.
Calloway is the best protagonist because you actually wanna root for him. I hope if they ever make another adaptation that they have him as the protagonist.
A faithful animated comic adaptation as a series would absolutely be insanely popular. Imagine a Mask show on Prime or HBO everyone would be talking about it.
I would love to see an adult animated adaptation of the mask. It wouldn’t feel out of place alongside other dark and adult comic book streaming series adaptations like The Boys or Invincible.
Fun fact lobo fought the mask and they were equal, another fun fact the joker once put on the mask. (But it was in the more light hearted late 90's and early 2000's era, or was based off of the Batman the animated series).
Fun fact: The Mask was originally intended to be a horror movie in the steps of "a nightmare on elm Street$ but the producers along the way figured out that it would be more successful as a comedy.
I think that Walter was a former host of the mask but he used it so long he eventually became an embodiment of chaos and the mask couldn’t do anything else with Walter
@@UnoDinero95001the comment is just supposed to be a description of the character, what does that have to do with this? Stop trolling in order to cause ruckus and fights and just watch the video.
@CertifiedHater98 have you read the comic? Cuz I have it here and that's very much the humor of it all through mask omnibus collection of all these stories
In The Mask: Animated Series Season 1 Episode 15 - Split Personality, the episode ends with Walter putting on the Mask, only for it to not work, like in the comics.
i guess considering that walter doesnt seem to have any emotions by the time we see him in the comic and the mask seems to amplify people's emotions until they start doing horrible things i guess it just doesnt work because walter doesnt really have any deep desires, he's just simple mindedly going for the mask so there's nothing for the mask to work with there
Imagine an animated adaptation of the mask with the level of faithfulness of invincible. Complete with the gore and all, that’d probably dance on the line of complete nightmare fuel
@@ShamanTiers Real, if we got that Young Justice style animation for the Mask it would suck. The Mask needs to be somewhere between the movie Heavy Metal and Looney Tunes so it can capture the chaos it wants to without just being another cartoon
Dude, I'm so happy you're talking about Dark Horse Comics' The Mask! It's one of my favorites (even if it did decline in quality as it went on). But I really love those first couple arcs and storylines, and I still love the 1st movie! I would love a new adaptation that's closer to the source material! EDIT: Yes, an animated adult series would be fantastic for The Mask! Just go all out with it!
If The Mask brings out the inner most personality traits, Walter wouldn't be able to wear it because he's not hiding who he is. Walter is 100% that unstoppable force who isn't holding anything back at all.
Was scrolling by looking for a video to watch, and the preview for this one played. Literally just stayed and watched it like that, this video just had me hoooked immediately.
0:42 I'm now imagining a scenario of _Death Note_ where Light Yagami gets the Mask and starts using it to kill criminals across Japan, and L basically has to go up against a Looney Tunes character. Someone should write that fic...
6:22 ok this is ridiculous, I understand that English teachers like to give students work with extremely strict deadlines, only to grade the work a month later. But he really came back years later just to do that💀🙏
17:00 it's all up to your own interpretation I suppose but I would like to imagine that the reason he couldn't use the mask was his serious nature clashing fundamentally with his own. That must mean both have an equal strength of will maybe?
I'd k1ll for R-rated "Mask" live-action movie adaptation, more closer to comics, and more violent. I mean, Deadpool movie trilogy has shown that r-rated comic book movie adaptations work, and sell well.
Frank would break down into a crying catatonic man who's consumed by his grief at losing his wife and child. The mask brings out inner inhibitions, and Frank's inner self is a sad wounded man. It would have the opposite effect then expected.
I always interpreted Walter’s inability to use the mask is because the mask is sentient to an extent and it likes corrupting people but with Walter there’s nothing to corrupt hell in some ways he’s more depraved than the other hosts or maybe it’s because he has no desires or wants? Stan wanted revenge Kellaway wanted to fight crime Cathy just wanted everything to stop but Walter is just this unknowable force, he’s a block of marble before you sculpt it no thoughts head empty so the mask has nothing to latch onto
I think it's because Walter has no *repressed* desires or wants. The mask takes everything that you want to do and removes every single barrier to doing it, physical or moral. Walter already does exactly what he wants in every moment.
I really liked how Joker/Mask played with the different continuities, particularly how it ends with Kellaway dropping the mask in Stanley's grave (while calling him a buffoon in the translation) sort of acknowledging him as the mask's true owner. Stanley in the Dark Horse continuity is of course a weakling who is offed by his gf after the mask turns him abusive. The Stanley portrayed by Jim Carrey and the subsequent cartoon is a superhero (though he still could've died young in this version too I guess). Kellaway himself is a comedic foil to the 2nd Stanley and a good cop tormented by the memory of going on a justice-fueled rampage with the mask in the 1st version. The mask also has 2 different origins, either being the wooden viking mask of Loki or a stone or jade mask from Africa used for sacrifices. But this poetic ending I feel kinda works for both versions.
My personal fan theory is that walter is from the original tribe that made the mask before it was taken to America and that’s the reason why he never speaks but is so well trained, he doesn’t speak English and was probably trained his whole life to fight anyone wearing the mask and that’s probably why the mask never worked on him
It’s actually revealed in a spin-off comic about Walter running for political office that he was shot in the throat. Hence why he doesn’t talk. It doesn’t explain why he’s apparently unkillable but at least they gave an explanation as to why he can’t talk.
I owned "The Mask" and "The Mask Returns" comics back when I was a teen, but finally read the Omnibus with all three mini-series, and I enjoyed the story as a whole quite a bit. I would've loved a movie that was closer to the source material where multiple people wore it for different reasons.
I always interpreted the mask not working on Walter being because he lacks the id for it. Throughout the story, Walter never really has his own wants. In Freud's model, a person is comprised of three parts: their desires (id), their image of themself (ego), and their understanding of others' perception of them (superego). Even with something as simple as getting the suit, he doesn't actually express that he wants it, or that he thinks it's good. He just takes what the tailor gives him. The mask doesn't work on him because he only acts as the world tells him to. Even destroying the mask is just his job. He doesn't hate it or want it. He just does his job. He works as such a good foil to the mask because the mask only offers the wearer the world that isn't. Walter is the world that is.
I like all the theories as to exactly why Walter can’t wear the mask, and personally one I have is that he didn’t want to wear it in the first place If I remember correctly, the first time Walter got his hands on the Mask, he didn’t put it on, I think he just threw it away. And so the reason he even tried to put it on the second time is to get rid of the “Bighead” character that’s created whenever someone wears it. He’s been at odds with just about everyone that has ever worn the Mask and the second time around he now knows that throwing it away won’t solve that problem, and so instead he tries to put it on to get rid of Bighead because if he is Bighead than no one else can be He has no actual desire to wear the Mask and use its power. The only desire the Mask could grant him is to get rid of that annoyance, and as a result it doesn’t even work on him in the first place, as if it did work it’d simply create another Bighead
The Mask can't replace the mask of someone who never had one to begin with. Ipkiss and Kellaway had social/metaphorical masks to hide their true wants and needs but Walter never did that. He doesn't mince words to tell people one thing and mean something else (hell, he just doesn't feel the need to spesk at all) and he has no reason to ever hold back what he is doing. He has no career to worry about losing, no lover he needs to be there for, no moral obligation to be polite to anybody at all, he just is what he is. So when he put the Mask on it basically had nothing to work with. It can't symbiotically replace the personal mask holding someone back if they've never felt the need to have one at all.
When I was a kid I really liked the jim carrey movie. My dad later bought me a cd with the first 4 issues of mahnke/arcudi's mask on it in digital form and holy buckets was I in for a surprise. Those first four issues which serve as the loose inspiration for the movie were WAY more violent and gory than anything in the movie. Fell in love with the character, the Mask Returns also by the mahnke/arcudi team was phenomenal and is still my favorite installment. Walter comics, also cool. Those first four issues and The Mask Returns all came out before the jim carrey film, so when Dark Horse tried to capitalize on the films success they ended up tuning down the violence, embracing more of the cartoon aspects of the Mask. They tried to appeal to younger audiences that the film was targeted towards and it really sucked all that hyper-violent goodness out of the Mask. Dark Horse has since corrected this with its more recent stories. "I pledge allegiance to the mask" is probably the most terrifying mask story to date, and highly relatable in today's political landscape complete with the hyper-violent mask of yore.
The Mask was one of my first ever movie I saw.. And I remember the wet lets call it "Protection" joke and my dumbass child mind thought it was a wet balloon 😭
Odin in the god of war Ragnarok also used his ravens so you may make a good point when mentioning him being potentially Odin. It's sort of a full indicator of it being the same. I never watch mask comics, only saw the movie but I think the mask doesn't work because it can't control him, meaning he is mentally stronger for the mask to work it's magic and he could end the host if he wanted to but decided to spare him. Idk this just makes most sense to me but could be talking rubbish. Great video
The Mask probably can sense Walter as incorruptable, somehow even moreso than the hard boiled detective. Also considering Walter seems to be mute, he would probably be pretty boring host for something as talkative as the Mask is.
The Mask is supposed to replace the usual "Mask" a person normally puts on to supress their actual wants and desires. Normally they may have a physical/social wall that blocks them from saying and doing what they want. Like with Detective Kellaway he always wanted to throw the repeat criminals who weasel out of being jailed into prison and actually be punished for their crimes, so the Mask enabled him to just outright murder them without any repurcussions to Kellaway himself. It shields him from losing his job or reputation compared to if he just went and killed on his own. With Walter however he doesn't wear any such Masks. He doesn't mince words to hide his true intentions (he just doesn't feel the need to speak ever) unlike some who may try to say one thing but mean another. He doesn't have any particular family/career/love interest he needs to protect. Doesn't have any qualms about doing what he wants using his natural strength. So when he puts the Mask on it basically has nothing to work with. No hidden desires or repressed feelings, what you see with Walter is what you get. Unlike other wearers like Ipkiss or Kellaway who bit their tongues or would hold back in some way out of a sense of morality or fear of repurcussions, Walter doesn't hide behind any kind of metaphorical mask for the supernatural Mask to replace.
I would love to one day see some kind of adaptation, animated or live action, that gives us more of this passing of the Mask from one character to another. In particular, I love Katherine's character and think she would make for an amazing throughline character in the Mask.
Thanks for posting this! Really education and REALLY well put together. I learned a lot! Walter's just not compatible... he's quiet, not impulsive, and very kept to himself also likely has had everything he's ever wanted and just has nothing else to strife for. The opposite of the mask and what it wants from its users.
This might be another case where a lot of people would be angry at how the story was adapted into a movie, and then a cartoon series, but I get the sense that all instances of the property work well for what they are. Changes needed to be made to be successful mainstream comedy, and later a cartoon that was fine for kids to watch. And if anyone insists that it should have been 100% faithful to the comic, then... I don't feel like this property would get heard of as much if it wasn't for the changes made that let it go mainstream, and thus not as many people would read these original comics
The mask is absolutely my Favorite comic, I'd love if they would turn it into a cartoon adaptation way too much. You're right, they are sitting on gold.
Honestly, I think the comic book version would be an excellent fit for Mortal Kombat, since they're going to continue bringing in guest characters! It would probably work better if they ever made an Injustice 3, though
An R rated remake of the mask could be really successful. Keep the main character exactly the same, except his antics cause actual death and destruction.
Finally, somebody’s talking about this man I came across him and been a fan of the character since thank you so much. You’re one of the best comic RUclipsrs Top 3 for me 🙏🙏🙏 my goat 🐐 also amazing last video about the maker I gave him more praise after that
I always thought the mask wouldn't work on Walter because it thrives on people's inner selves, whereas with Walter he is who he is inside and out, so there were no insecurities, fears, or other intrusive thoughts to bring to the forefront
Hey mullet man comics! ive watch your "the most vile villan ever in comics" and i really enjoyed it. Can you pls do a vid about the best representation of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" character in fiction? I feel like its interesting and no one has ever make a vid about it.
Why, when reading this, I heard either Jim Carrey or Rob paulsens voice? Maybe it's because they're the only actors who play the mask, but I could see either of them play this version of The Mask
Ipkiss doesn't even get the Mask for very long. It gets passed to different individuals over the course of the series. Detective Kellaway has it for far longer than Ipkiss used it.
I always thought the mask never worked on Walter because the mask allows one to break their inhibitions to cause chaos, but that's just Walter's default state. He's never restrained himself or refused any urges, so what can the mask even offer someone like that?
I always thought it was cause he got a big head
And now, what was gona do now Walter after the mask reject him as the owner?
Yeah, like it externalizes and manifests your Id and Walter's Id is already completely externalized and manifest so it can't effect him.
You can't tear open a door that's already off its hinges.
@@cadsquade That's a good theory
The Mask not working on Walter might be the most unexpected moment in a series that's full of left turns and wild moments.
My theory is that Walter is too unchangeable. He lacks the imagination to be anything else than Walter and not even the mask change that
@@EN-mh4og I just like the stupid theory of "he head too big." Fits the uncaring nature of the entity of the mask to a T. It's also just a hilarious image & juxtaposition of everybody else's face & head being enveloped by the mask, but Walter is the one enveloping the mask in his panel.
I love that you can really bring away as much or as little as you want from reading most of The Mask books outside of maybe "Hunt For Green October". They're somehow both really deep & really shallow at the same time. Right up there with "The Maxx", the first 25 or so issues of "TMNT" and "The Tick" as some of these short run books that have a fully realized world that exists in itself and doesn't really have a desire to explain itself just for the sake of exposition.
@@EN-mh4og In the end we could have only two solutions: or like you said Walter naturally is something totally incompatible with the mask that couldn't work... or Walter is so similar to the mask that wearing doesn't change anything about his persona and so couldn't work.
The mask tempts users by offering to give them what they crave deep down so it can twist them into violent maniacs Walter has no need for the mask he isn’t repressed or unhappy like the others he already lives the life he wants and is already a pretty violent/insane individual so there wasn’t much for the mask to corrupt
@@majestyzx9081 my first thought was the basic anatomy difference of his giant head and how it just falls off his face... lmao
If I think about it deeper I would think they are like the Unstoppable Force meeting the immovable object etc water and oil, incompatible idk...
From a psychological aspect I like to think that he is something like a sociopath and doesn't have normal people feelings or emotions, and a magical mask that amplifies personality and creates trickster chaos would have no effect find somebody so numb or terminator robotic like. Kinda like a light bulb can fit in the socket but if the wires are not wired correctly it can't flow.
Just thinking out loud at this point regardless cheers!!
I always interpreted the Mask not working on Walter due to the fact that Walter has no... hidden darkness, so to speak. This doesn't mean he is good, it's just means that Walter is... Walter. He wears his darkness in his sleeves.
All of the Mask's bearers have hidden dark impulses, inner demons and desires that the Mask brings to the forefront and amplifies to make its wearers into avatars of destruction and chaos.
Walter doesn't have any hidden darkness or inner sadistic desires, because Walter simply IS Walter. Walter is sincere in his brutality. If he wants to kill you, he kills you. So the Mask cannot bring anything to the surface and twist it, because it's already there.
well said
walter is walter confirmed
So Walter always shows his inner darkness
It's become more apparent in his own spin-off when he runs for mayor. Read it and you can see why.
This is a good theory, but I think a better one is that the mask is about a sense of humor. It’s kinda weird to me to say “it’s about repressed darkness” when Walter can’t wear it but also kills people. The opposite of Walter is levity, that’s what sets him apart.
The Mask in the comics is essentially the urban one ring to rule them all.
-Both slowly corrupts the wearer after some time
-Makes people addicted to it due to its inherit abilities
-Empowers the user to fit their goals
-Highly sought after by individuals who know of it
Well the idea of the Ring anyway. We always see the Ring tempting everyone around it, we see characters talking about how powerful they could be with it and yet the only tangible thing we ever see the Ring do is turn the wearer invisible
@@BenersantheBread
The power of the ring ironically reflects the power of the wearer, supposedly people like Aragorn and Boromir or Gandalf could have displayed powers we did not see.
Also is never aquired by the main antagonist who is more of a force of nature than a character
Perfect comparison
It’s because both have very direct inspiration from the Ring of Gyges allegory
Edit: maybe not inspiration, but they’re all asking the same thematic questions of morality and power
Nothing in the comics will ever come as close to the horror that is son of the mask.
The world cursed me as a kid and gave me son of the mask instead of the mask
the horrific cgi of that baby appears in my nightmares
@@aaron_exe6449 A Family Movie. Family Picture
And to think I just got done repressing that abomination.
Hell yeah dude
Dang Jim Carrey got the powers of a God twice. Maybe more?
A lot more than once but paid so much more
I mean he is Op in every movie he is in, even in Truman show his world revolves around him until he got outside .
@@HangMrHhe ain’t OP in Fun With Dick and Jane. He a broke boi
Again in sonic the hedgehog if you count the emerald
There was a sequel but it sucked ass
For walter not being able to use the mask I have three theories
1. He has nothing to hide. If we take the "logical" route in the real purpose of a mask is to pretend to be someone or something you aren't, like Halloween or dressing up for a convention as your favorite character like we see with other hosts for the mask. Walter is exactly who he wants to be, he's tenacious, vicious and downright disturbing in his approach to getting what he wants.
2. He cannot be corrupted. Not to say he's pure of heart, but rather he's as dark as he can or will ever be. If we use what was show to us in the comics the mask, regardless of strength of character, corrupts its host. Again, if we use previous examples the others had goals in mind of what they wanted to do with the power. Become a superhero, free animals, or even cause chaos the mask twists what their original goal was into something darker. And for Walter its just not doable somehow, he knows exactly how he wants something and the exact way to get it eventually.
3. Maybe the mask is sentient, it knows Walter is its antithesis and enjoys the competition. To make him its host would take all the joy it could ever get out of spreading chaos. Almost like playing a game, when you can do anything, make anything that has no consequences what's the fun in that? Or possibly it finds it funny to make the ONLY man that could take it from its host "forcefully" not viable is another sick joke it enjoys.
4. His face is too big
I think it's because he has no desire he can't attain himself. Stanley wanted to push people around, Calloway was a detective who was under a lot of pressure, the mobster was a guy with delusions of grandeur and Catherine just wanted all the people using it to be stopped
I’ve honestly never heard the third idea though, but it’s definitely a very interesting comics. A dynamic pretty similar to The Joker and Batman. And I believe we have seen portions of the comics where the Mask itself speaks to people even when it’s not being worn which could indicate it is indeed sentient
face too big
You don't have to be "good" to be pure of heart, you can be pure evil/chaos
SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT THE MASK IN 2024🙏❗️
I LOVE THIS COMIC SM ‼🗣🔥🔥🔥
They should bring it back
My father, who loves comic books, explained the premise of The Mask to me once. He explained how it was an ugly green mask that made whoever wore it capable of doing anything they wanted to do, being whoever they wanted to be. Rather than asking what exactly The Mask could do, I asked, "Won't people care that he's wearing a mask?" (in the context of him eventually being loved by anyone he encounters.)
This conversation went on, but only that one line stuck with me since then. If you have unlimited power, at the cost of nobody ever knowing who you are when you wield that power, will these powers ever be anything more than some superfluous blip? When you wear the Mask, you aren't just gaining its powers, you're hiding yourself from the outside world, from consequences and repercussions for your increasingly unhinged actions.
In a way, The Mask starts wearing _you_ .
Gay
I like this take
@@nevanseitz2533 Unintelligible defense, move on
Overruled, GAYYY@@kingol4801
I think of it more of a Grey Cowl of Nocturnal sort of situation. As in if you dawn the 'cowl' (or mask), you take on the 'avatar' or embodiment of the god or entity that created it.
So essenitally in Oblivion, you could use the mask to do literally whatever you wanted from murdering a town to stealing everything in your path, but as soon as you took it off, you lost all of the bounties/aggro/charges etc. So less that it's 'wearing you' and more you are momentarily the embodiment of whatever god or entity/being infused the object with their power. You become a 'you' version of them. Almost like your souls fuse for a moment until the cowl, or mask in this case, is removed. Then you just become you again.
I think this is demonstrated well in the Mask movie as well. When Carrey has it on, he's more a chaotic goofball, but the other guy is more like a horrifying monster straight outta classic horror movies. So I feel it's more an artifact that amplifies who you are via the visage of the god inhabiting it personally.
The way I understood it, the mask simply removes limits. Limits of physics and limits of morality aren't any different to it. Walter isn't affected because he already breaks too many limits.
It's an incarnation of a higher being banned to the lower plane to twist 3d laws of physics
It's surreal to know how much darker and gruesome the original The Mask comics are compared to the Jim Carrey movie.
Well they toned down and worried the movie might get complained
I mean i love the jim carrey mask
The original mask was dark
But it worked both
But i still prefer the jim carrey mask
Bro what, did bro get the blue comment in youtube?
@@joshuagraham2843 what was the dark things in it?
If you want a similar contrast then read the original Ninja Turtles comics. The Turtles originally thought up by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were far darker than any of the later adaptations, especially the in 1987 cartoons.
@@thegreygoblin5165give an example on how it’s darker
Mask has a such a strong concept,
it consistently changing perspectives of different characters, mask having cartoon like super powers and personality, and how it slightly changes depending on user,
its real entertaining.
isnt it boring?
I think Walter is just already completely uninhibited.
he wants something, he gets it. He wants to do something, he does it. No questions asked.
I think that Walter doesn't have the deep seated aspirations and wants a normal person has, that well of deep frustration for what reality is because... well, he's Walter. No one but Big head can oppose him. Not stop him. Oppose him.
I think he just didn't interest the mask itself, the entity, too empty, too boring. If the corruption of the user is what the mask is after, in the whole demonic "Doth as thou wilt" rule then... Walter is already completely doing it. Nothing to corrupt there.
Genuinely love this conclusion
Best comment I've seen so far.
I see it exactly like that: The Parallels between Walter and the mask.
Walter: "He wants something, he gets it. He wants to do something, he does it.
Mask: "The mask allows to grant its powers to want something, you get it. The mask lets you get what you want to do something and it allows you to get it.
Mask didnt work simply because Walter is the freak of nature that allows him to get what he wants akin to the mask, whilst remaining his true self.
No alter-ego to bring to life. Its just Walter.
It’s like offering ultimate power to a grizzly bear. It can already do whatever it wants, and all it really wants is to eat, s;$t, roll over and go to sleep.
I thought it was that he wasn't human, and in the way, the other version of the mask with no imagination
Steve buscemi as the mask voice is so inspired man, I cant help but hear it now🙆🏾♂️
i imagined a more gilbert gotfried roughness
Yes
It really is an unironically great idea
That would honestly be amazing
this would be an awesome remake
The way walter was handled is one of the best things in the comic. Hes almost like a force of nature. He comes in, does what he wants, others may try using him but walter does as he pleases and he gets what he wants. Almost exactly like the mask itself.
@@KnolsyRACHEL
Calloway is the best protagonist because you actually wanna root for him. I hope if they ever make another adaptation that they have him as the protagonist.
If they make a show it would be cool if each season was a new wearer to mirror the comics
What about Doyle?
Green October would also work
A faithful animated comic adaptation as a series would absolutely be insanely popular. Imagine a Mask show on Prime or HBO everyone would be talking about it.
I love how the text is drawn when he is wearing the mask
We need a faithful adaption of this
I would love to see an adult animated adaptation of the mask. It wouldn’t feel out of place alongside other dark and adult comic book streaming series adaptations like The Boys or Invincible.
chainsawman is close
@@Brianna-eo8nu I'd buy that for a dollar
Amen to that.
Yes
12:23 he’s bling bling boy
I’m very early to this comment
NOOOOO I CAN'T UNSEE IT 😭
God fucking damnit
Fun fact lobo fought the mask and they were equal, another fun fact the joker once put on the mask. (But it was in the more light hearted late 90's and early 2000's era, or was based off of the Batman the animated series).
Fun fact: The Mask was originally intended to be a horror movie in the steps of "a nightmare on elm Street$ but the producers along the way figured out that it would be more successful as a comedy.
Honestly I feel like it'd work best as a dark comedy rather than a pure horror film
I'd be, A superhero! I could fight crime, cure diseases, create world peace!! BUT FIRST.....
I think that Walter was a former host of the mask but he used it so long he eventually became an embodiment of chaos and the mask couldn’t do anything else with Walter
Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask
Incel vibes
@@UnoDinero95001
Why do you love that word so much
Yesss😂
@@UnoDinero95001the comment is just supposed to be a description of the character, what does that have to do with this? Stop trolling in order to cause ruckus and fights and just watch the video.
@@BlueTyphoon2017 It’s from Batman, bane says it
I think the point was that the Mask user was always called "Big Head", and then Walter can't use it because Ironically his head is TOO BIG..
Lmao nah that’s a stupid ass reach 😂
@CertifiedHater98 have you read the comic? Cuz I have it here and that's very much the humor of it all through mask omnibus collection of all these stories
@@CertifiedHater98 nvm. I just read your profile. Carry on
I agree. His head was too big fir the mask. Lol. 100%.
In The Mask: Animated Series Season 1 Episode 15 - Split Personality, the episode ends with Walter putting on the Mask, only for it to not work, like in the comics.
5:34 LOOK AT THAT CHEEKEY SMILE! And if walter could use the mask, it would be on par with thanos getting his hands on the infinity gauntlet.
Thanos made the gauntlet, he just had to find the stones.
I love the Mask comics artstyle, I think is so unique :)
youd like spawn, darker image and vertigo stuff
meant "dark horse"
i guess considering that walter doesnt seem to have any emotions by the time we see him in the comic and the mask seems to amplify people's emotions until they start doing horrible things
i guess it just doesnt work because walter doesnt really have any deep desires, he's just simple mindedly going for the mask so there's nothing for the mask to work with there
I think Jim Carrey would still be perfect in a faithful adaptation. He would shine in a darker script..
Maybe
I mean...maybe a couple decades ago. He's p old now
Imagine an animated adaptation of the mask with the level of faithfulness of invincible. Complete with the gore and all, that’d probably dance on the line of complete nightmare fuel
invincible has bad animation though wouldn't fit something as chaotic as the mask which needs good animation to really get it right
@@ShamanTiers Real, if we got that Young Justice style animation for the Mask it would suck. The Mask needs to be somewhere between the movie Heavy Metal and Looney Tunes so it can capture the chaos it wants to without just being another cartoon
Dude, I'm so happy you're talking about Dark Horse Comics' The Mask! It's one of my favorites (even if it did decline in quality as it went on).
But I really love those first couple arcs and storylines, and I still love the 1st movie! I would love a new adaptation that's closer to the source material!
EDIT: Yes, an animated adult series would be fantastic for The Mask! Just go all out with it!
I would unironically love to see a faithful adaptation to the big screen. Not that Jim Carry’s The Mask is bad, mind you.
I like to think that Walter is such a menace that he doesn’t even need the mask
The Mask is like Art The Clown before Art The Clown, but more of an an anti hero then a straight-up villain
That panel of Walter with red eyes and the crows makes him look like a modern Uchiha
If The Mask brings out the inner most personality traits, Walter wouldn't be able to wear it because he's not hiding who he is. Walter is 100% that unstoppable force who isn't holding anything back at all.
Id love a rated R animated series of people wearing the mask. The possibilities are endless with a this.
Was scrolling by looking for a video to watch, and the preview for this one played. Literally just stayed and watched it like that, this video just had me hoooked immediately.
16:30 Maybe even the Mask knew Walter was WAY too overpowered. Even the Mask respected the Laws of the universe now. 😅😅😅
0:42 I'm now imagining a scenario of _Death Note_ where Light Yagami gets the Mask and starts using it to kill criminals across Japan, and L basically has to go up against a Looney Tunes character. Someone should write that fic...
Light vs bugs lmao
Man, imagine if we got a faithful, comic-accurate movie of THIS Mask.
Yes
Dude Walter's the fucken Nemesis of the Mask universe, he's just constantly drawn to the Mask like he's hunting fucken S.TA.R.S. lolol
Jim Carrey Played The Mask Character So Well In The Movie
That's almost a problem: he was so inconic and great that almost destroyed the original version.
@@MangaSt"destroyed" no you just had no previous appreciation for the source material you casual
6:22 ok this is ridiculous, I understand that English teachers like to give students work with extremely strict deadlines, only to grade the work a month later. But he really came back years later just to do that💀🙏
There are people who cannot let go of that kind of stuff. Resentment can root itself deep if you let it
17:00 it's all up to your own interpretation I suppose but I would like to imagine that the reason he couldn't use the mask was his serious nature clashing fundamentally with his own. That must mean both have an equal strength of will maybe?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Luffy’s Gear 5 from One Piece was partially inspired by Jim Carrey’s iteration of The Mask.
I love The Mask comic book so much. It’s just pure anarchy and destruction. Every single page has so much creativity in it.
Catherine was my favorite mask wielder, by far. I'm a little sad we didn't get to see more of her.
it's about time someone talked about this comic series, it's such a unique comic that revels in it's absurdity, and i love every second of that.
This needs to be made a legitimate horror movie
How a comic accurate mask show hasnt come out yet is beyond me. It can literally go through every user of the mask
I'd k1ll for R-rated "Mask" live-action movie adaptation, more closer to comics, and more violent.
I mean, Deadpool movie trilogy has shown that r-rated comic book movie adaptations work, and sell well.
i think it'd fare better as an animated series, like Invincible
I'm glad to see someone talk about the mask comics, i love them
Imagine if the Punisher got the mask, he'd be unstoppable.
Considering how the Mask corrupts, im.curious as to what itd do to him.
Frank would break down into a crying catatonic man who's consumed by his grief at losing his wife and child. The mask brings out inner inhibitions, and Frank's inner self is a sad wounded man. It would have the opposite effect then expected.
Imagine if Thragg got the mask, he'd be.... inv....
*[TITLE CARD POPS OUT]*
Well… there was this one time when Joker got it…
Deadpool?
This is nice, in another universe. I still want my full comic of The Mask with Jim Carrey and all his adventures being good. Like the cartoon.
I always interpreted Walter’s inability to use the mask is because the mask is sentient to an extent and it likes corrupting people but with Walter there’s nothing to corrupt hell in some ways he’s more depraved than the other hosts or maybe it’s because he has no desires or wants? Stan wanted revenge Kellaway wanted to fight crime Cathy just wanted everything to stop but Walter is just this unknowable force, he’s a block of marble before you sculpt it no thoughts head empty so the mask has nothing to latch onto
I think it's because Walter has no *repressed* desires or wants. The mask takes everything that you want to do and removes every single barrier to doing it, physical or moral. Walter already does exactly what he wants in every moment.
I really liked how Joker/Mask played with the different continuities, particularly how it ends with Kellaway dropping the mask in Stanley's grave (while calling him a buffoon in the translation) sort of acknowledging him as the mask's true owner. Stanley in the Dark Horse continuity is of course a weakling who is offed by his gf after the mask turns him abusive. The Stanley portrayed by Jim Carrey and the subsequent cartoon is a superhero (though he still could've died young in this version too I guess). Kellaway himself is a comedic foil to the 2nd Stanley and a good cop tormented by the memory of going on a justice-fueled rampage with the mask in the 1st version. The mask also has 2 different origins, either being the wooden viking mask of Loki or a stone or jade mask from Africa used for sacrifices. But this poetic ending I feel kinda works for both versions.
My personal fan theory is that walter is from the original tribe that made the mask before it was taken to America and that’s the reason why he never speaks but is so well trained, he doesn’t speak English and was probably trained his whole life to fight anyone wearing the mask and that’s probably why the mask never worked on him
It’s actually revealed in a spin-off comic about Walter running for political office that he was shot in the throat. Hence why he doesn’t talk. It doesn’t explain why he’s apparently unkillable but at least they gave an explanation as to why he can’t talk.
Jim Carey “The mask” was one of my favorite move as a kid !!
The Mask is my favorite comic series and the movie is my favorite movie. I love the mask a lot and i'm glad you did a video about it finally! :3
I owned "The Mask" and "The Mask Returns" comics back when I was a teen, but finally read the Omnibus with all three mini-series, and I enjoyed the story as a whole quite a bit. I would've loved a movie that was closer to the source material where multiple people wore it for different reasons.
We need a faithful Steve buschemi version
My headcanon was that The Mask was a piece of Loki but Walter was a piece of Thor.
I always interpreted the mask not working on Walter being because he lacks the id for it. Throughout the story, Walter never really has his own wants. In Freud's model, a person is comprised of three parts: their desires (id), their image of themself (ego), and their understanding of others' perception of them (superego). Even with something as simple as getting the suit, he doesn't actually express that he wants it, or that he thinks it's good. He just takes what the tailor gives him. The mask doesn't work on him because he only acts as the world tells him to. Even destroying the mask is just his job. He doesn't hate it or want it. He just does his job. He works as such a good foil to the mask because the mask only offers the wearer the world that isn't. Walter is the world that is.
I like all the theories as to exactly why Walter can’t wear the mask, and personally one I have is that he didn’t want to wear it in the first place
If I remember correctly, the first time Walter got his hands on the Mask, he didn’t put it on, I think he just threw it away. And so the reason he even tried to put it on the second time is to get rid of the “Bighead” character that’s created whenever someone wears it. He’s been at odds with just about everyone that has ever worn the Mask and the second time around he now knows that throwing it away won’t solve that problem, and so instead he tries to put it on to get rid of Bighead because if he is Bighead than no one else can be
He has no actual desire to wear the Mask and use its power. The only desire the Mask could grant him is to get rid of that annoyance, and as a result it doesn’t even work on him in the first place, as if it did work it’d simply create another Bighead
The Mask can't replace the mask of someone who never had one to begin with. Ipkiss and Kellaway had social/metaphorical masks to hide their true wants and needs but Walter never did that.
He doesn't mince words to tell people one thing and mean something else (hell, he just doesn't feel the need to spesk at all) and he has no reason to ever hold back what he is doing. He has no career to worry about losing, no lover he needs to be there for, no moral obligation to be polite to anybody at all, he just is what he is.
So when he put the Mask on it basically had nothing to work with. It can't symbiotically replace the personal mask holding someone back if they've never felt the need to have one at all.
When I was a kid I really liked the jim carrey movie. My dad later bought me a cd with the first 4 issues of mahnke/arcudi's mask on it in digital form and holy buckets was I in for a surprise. Those first four issues which serve as the loose inspiration for the movie were WAY more violent and gory than anything in the movie. Fell in love with the character, the Mask Returns also by the mahnke/arcudi team was phenomenal and is still my favorite installment. Walter comics, also cool. Those first four issues and The Mask Returns all came out before the jim carrey film, so when Dark Horse tried to capitalize on the films success they ended up tuning down the violence, embracing more of the cartoon aspects of the Mask. They tried to appeal to younger audiences that the film was targeted towards and it really sucked all that hyper-violent goodness out of the Mask. Dark Horse has since corrected this with its more recent stories. "I pledge allegiance to the mask" is probably the most terrifying mask story to date, and highly relatable in today's political landscape complete with the hyper-violent mask of yore.
The Mask was one of my first ever movie I saw.. And I remember the wet lets call it "Protection" joke and my dumbass child mind thought it was a wet balloon 😭
Odin in the god of war Ragnarok also used his ravens so you may make a good point when mentioning him being potentially Odin. It's sort of a full indicator of it being the same. I never watch mask comics, only saw the movie but I think the mask doesn't work because it can't control him, meaning he is mentally stronger for the mask to work it's magic and he could end the host if he wanted to but decided to spare him. Idk this just makes most sense to me but could be talking rubbish. Great video
18:40 is that Boris the Bear?!!
Okay turns out it ain’t Boris at all. I feel dumb & disappointed. 😔
@@DamningTooth1who is that?
@@FunkelMcStump Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees
I love The Mask. Great job my dude.
The Mask probably can sense Walter as incorruptable, somehow even moreso than the hard boiled detective. Also considering Walter seems to be mute, he would probably be pretty boring host for something as talkative as the Mask is.
The Mask is supposed to replace the usual "Mask" a person normally puts on to supress their actual wants and desires. Normally they may have a physical/social wall that blocks them from saying and doing what they want.
Like with Detective Kellaway he always wanted to throw the repeat criminals who weasel out of being jailed into prison and actually be punished for their crimes, so the Mask enabled him to just outright murder them without any repurcussions to Kellaway himself. It shields him from losing his job or reputation compared to if he just went and killed on his own.
With Walter however he doesn't wear any such Masks. He doesn't mince words to hide his true intentions (he just doesn't feel the need to speak ever) unlike some who may try to say one thing but mean another. He doesn't have any particular family/career/love interest he needs to protect. Doesn't have any qualms about doing what he wants using his natural strength. So when he puts the Mask on it basically has nothing to work with. No hidden desires or repressed feelings, what you see with Walter is what you get. Unlike other wearers like Ipkiss or Kellaway who bit their tongues or would hold back in some way out of a sense of morality or fear of repurcussions, Walter doesn't hide behind any kind of metaphorical mask for the supernatural Mask to replace.
I would love to one day see some kind of adaptation, animated or live action, that gives us more of this passing of the Mask from one character to another. In particular, I love Katherine's character and think she would make for an amazing throughline character in the Mask.
If I get the mask there gonna call me the _freaky_
Thanks for posting this! Really education and REALLY well put together. I learned a lot!
Walter's just not compatible... he's quiet, not impulsive, and very kept to himself also likely has had everything he's ever wanted and just has nothing else to strife for. The opposite of the mask and what it wants from its users.
This might be another case where a lot of people would be angry at how the story was adapted into a movie, and then a cartoon series, but I get the sense that all instances of the property work well for what they are. Changes needed to be made to be successful mainstream comedy, and later a cartoon that was fine for kids to watch. And if anyone insists that it should have been 100% faithful to the comic, then... I don't feel like this property would get heard of as much if it wasn't for the changes made that let it go mainstream, and thus not as many people would read these original comics
They need to make this version of the mask
Dude i love your videos my family is going through some really hard stuff because of heart problems and your videos help me get the mind off of it ❤
I'm still hoping for an R-Rated adaptation of this version of The Mask
I’d be so down to clown for a animated mask voiced by Steve Buscemi
The mask is absolutely my Favorite comic, I'd love if they would turn it into a cartoon adaptation way too much. You're right, they are sitting on gold.
I love the mask movie with Jim Carrey!! Best movie would recommend it yall with it!
Finally we get a comic review of the mask ❤🖤
This must be Deadpool's favorite comics >:D
Fresh Mullet Drop? Thank you! I just found you recently and have been watching a lot of your videos, thank you for all the work!
Intro goes crazy, the music you chose for it goes extremely well with the comics Gritty Noir' atmosphere.
M&M intro lines will be underrated...lmao
5:39 I’m convinced they jacked this plot point from Venom’s first appearance where he scares MJ at her apartment pretending to be spider-man
Jim Carrey is a good actor
Honestly, I think the comic book version would be an excellent fit for Mortal Kombat, since they're going to continue bringing in guest characters! It would probably work better if they ever made an Injustice 3, though
An R rated remake of the mask could be really successful. Keep the main character exactly the same, except his antics cause actual death and destruction.
Finally, somebody’s talking about this man I came across him and been a fan of the character since thank you so much. You’re one of the best comic RUclipsrs Top 3 for me 🙏🙏🙏 my goat 🐐 also amazing last video about the maker I gave him more praise after that
I thoroughly appreciate and understand why this can never be adapted but personally I absolutely love the original mask run
I always thought the mask wouldn't work on Walter because it thrives on people's inner selves, whereas with Walter he is who he is inside and out, so there were no insecurities, fears, or other intrusive thoughts to bring to the forefront
12:00 “Who wants to fight a guy who punches metal?… FOR FUN”
Hey mullet man comics! ive watch your "the most vile villan ever in comics" and i really enjoyed it. Can you pls do a vid about the best representation of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" character in fiction? I feel like its interesting and no one has ever make a vid about it.
@@seanalfredrodriguez7521 ooooo that’s a good one, I’d have to think about that but surely it’d make a great vid
Why, when reading this, I heard either Jim Carrey or Rob paulsens voice? Maybe it's because they're the only actors who play the mask, but I could see either of them play this version of The Mask
Ipkiss doesn't even get the Mask for very long. It gets passed to different individuals over the course of the series. Detective Kellaway has it for far longer than Ipkiss used it.
Never knew the mask was a comic, thanks for this
Can't wait to read!
"SSSSSMOKIN"!!! - The Mask
The volume mixing in this vid is nuts, it blows my eardrums out every couple minutes.